The Lottery. Shirley Jackson brilliantly uses symbolism throughout this story to present many different types of themes including "violence and cruelty, custom and tradition, sex roles," and especially the title itself (Wilson 254).

University Degree Linguistics, Classics and related subjects

Esparza

Nicole A. Esparza

L. Báez Aguilar

Eng. 1302 Sec.103

October 11, 2005

Keeping Tradition Alive

When I first came across this piece of Literature in an old textbook of mine, I initially had the feeling this story was to be set in a friendly type setting with an ending full of joy. When first reading the title of “The Lottery” it is obvious that one will believe that the story will be about winning not losing something precious. Up until the ending of the story did I realize the story was going to end in a shocking manner, which left me in complete amazement. Shirley Jackson brilliantly uses symbolism throughout this story to present many different types of themes including “violence and cruelty, custom and tradition, sex roles,” and especially the title itself (Wilson 254).

The story begins on a summer day, June 27th, which just so happens to be the seventh day of summer, and it is known that to many people the number seven is to be lucky. Another major factor is the fact that summer is the complete opposite of winter because it is known to be a season of growth and life in nature. The reader’s first impression so far has to be that nothing short of happiness will occur with the title and summers presence in mind. This goes to show that “violence and/or cruelty can [happen] anywhere at anytime” (Wilson 254). Another main issue in the setting of summer is the fact that it first mentions “children assembled… [stuffing] pockets full of stones” (Sullivan 326). This is where the reader would get a sense of “boys will be boys” feeling and do not think anything cruel is going to happen. Jackson also introduces “the psychology behind mass cruelty by presenting a community whose citizens refuses to stand as individuals” (Wilson 254). She reveals this concept as the narrator brings out the men, while the “women, wearing faded house dresses and sweaters, came shortly after their menfolk.” The women “[begin] to call for their children having to called four of five times.” One boy ran back to the pile of stones him and his friends had built, but “his father spoke up sharply” and he hurried back (Sullivan 326). This part in the story shows us, the readers, this is a society where man dominates. Jackson also portrays the same concept in other aspects, like tradition and custom.

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Custom and tradition are revealed throughout by Jackson’s talented use of symbolism. As I mentioned before, their society is viewed as male dominating and it just so happens that the lottery is conducted by Mr. Summers. He first arrives in the square, where the lottery is being held, carrying a black wooden box. As he places is down on a stool, villagers keep their distance between themselves and the stool. There is even a hesitation when Mr. Summers asks for help concerning the box. This is where I realized that this was not going to be just an ordinary lottery. It is said that the black wooden box “had been made with some pieces of the box that had preceded it, the one that had been constructed when the first people settled down to make a village here” (Sullivan 326). This goes to show how much tradition is respected in their society. Later on in the story, one of the only people to stand up against tradition and custom is to be Mr. Adams who states “that over in the north villages they’re talking of giving up the lottery” to Old Man Warner. He shoots back by saying they are a “pack of crazy fools” (Sullivan 327). He also states that “there has always been a lottery,” meaning why change things? Mrs. Adams is the only one to stick up for her husband by saying “some places have already quit the lotteries” (Sullivan 327). It is clear that Old Man Warner is for keeping tradition alive forever by again giving the impression that there is “nothing but trouble” in changing what already is (Sullivan 327). The first step in the lottery, which is where every head of the family, man, has to draw a piece of paper out of the black box, has already taken place and they are now reading for the next, which is where they find out who has drawn the piece of paper with a black spot on it. First we have to take in account some detail on one of the main characters, Tessie Hutchinson.

In the beginning of the story everyone is gathering at the town square and Tessie Hutchinson arrives late and exchanges a few words with Mrs. Delacroix stating that she “clean forgot what day it was.” As she makes her way to her husband’s side, she declares her husband “wouldn’t have [her] leave m’dishes in the sink” and that is why she was late (Sullivan 326). Tessie goes from one extreme to the next by first stating to Mrs. Delacroix that she had forgotten one of, or the, most important day of the year to then trying to make the town believe that her husband will not have any type of mess in his house. This is just another example to which the reader has the right to believe this is a setting of male dominance. Now we are ready to reveal the winner of the lottery.

As soon as every family has their piece of paper, they are ready to revel who won. At this point, the reader still has no idea what the winner will actually win. Tessie Hutchinson realizes it is her husband who has drawn the paper with the “black spot” on it and she shouts “…it wasn’t fair” (Sullivan 328)! Her husband quickly retorts by telling her to “shut up” and it is obvious now that he is one for tradition and she is among the few who are not (Sullivan 328). They are now at the stage of the lottery where their entire family draws so they can come to the last stage and present the winner. It is noted that someone in the crowd whispers that she “[hopes] it’s not Nancy (daughter of Bill and Tessie Hutchinson)” (Sullivan 329). Old Man Warner again speaks out that “it’s not the way it used to be” (Sullivan 329). They finally come to the conclusion that it is Tessie who has drawn the black spotted paper.

“Stones” are mentioned at the beginning of the story and they are introduced by children collecting them and making piles of them, but this is the point in the story where they are put into play. Mrs. Delacroix, the woman that briefly conversed with Tessie at the beginning of the story in a very friendly manner, picks up a stone so large that she is forced to use both hands. “Someone [even] gave little Davy Hutchinson [a] few pebbles” (Sullivan 329). It is not until the very ending of the story that the reader understands what the stones and the whole lottery concept is really about. Tessie Hutchinson is stoned to death by her family, friends, and complete strangers to preserve tradition and customs (Sullivan 329-330).

There are many other ironic symbols that factor into the many themes of tradition and custom, sex roles, and violence and cruelty. It is all too often that people in today’s society allow other’s to make decisions for them. Because of tradition and customs, there is little room for people to believe that there are alternatives to the way of life. Through Jackson’s brilliant usage of symbols throughout the story, she was able to achieve, I believe, a literature masterpiece.

Works Cited

Wilson, Kathleen. Short Stories for Students. Volume 1. Detroit, New York, Toronto, London: Gale, 1997.

Sullivan, Nancy. The Treasury of American Short Stories. Garden City, New York: Doubleday and Company, Inc, 1981.